Football Overcomes 18-point Deficit to Down New Hampshire 29-25

Saturday, September 23

Newark, Del.

6 PM

University of Delaware

3-1 , 2-0

New Hampshire

2-2 , 0-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

New Hampshire

Delaware

Photo by: Mikey Reeves

Football Overcomes 18-point Deficit to Down New Hampshire 29-25

9/23/2023 11:40:00 PM | Football

Box Score Photo Gallery

NEWARK, Del. – The No. 19/16 University of Delaware football team fell behind by 18 points early in the second quarter, but came back for a thrilling 29-25 victory over No. 11/12 New Hampshire on Saturday night in a CAA matchup at Delaware Stadium. The win moved the Blue Hens to 3-1 overall and 2-0 in the CAA while the Wildcats slipped to 2-2 overall and 0-1 in league play.

HENS HIGHLIGHTS

Ryan O'Connor completed 24-of-37 passes for 336 yards and three touchdowns.
Marcus Yarns rushed 16 times for 105 yards and also caught five passes for 74 yards and another score.
Jourdan Townsend had a touchdown grab and led all receivers with a career-high 122 yards on five catches
Jackson Taylor led the UD defense with 11 tackles and teamed up with Chase McGowan for a sack.
Khalil Dawsey had eight tackles, an interception and a forced fumble.

HOW IT HAPPENED

New Hampshire opened the scoring with a safety as a blocked punt went out of the end zone on Delaware's first possession.
A field goal and a touchdown extended the Wildcats' lead to 12-0 at the end of the first quarter.
UNH made it an 18-0 game just two minutes into the second quarter on another touchdown and a failed PAT attempt.
A long kick return by JoJo Bermudez set up a short field on UD's next possession. O'Connor hit Townsend for a 32-yard catch-and-run to put Delaware on the board.
O'Connor completed passes to four different receivers to lead a 97-yard drive right before halftime. A 29-yard toss to Townsend set up a 24-yard scoring pass to Yarns, who broke several tackles to reach the end zone.
Kyron Cumby ran around the left end to go untouched for the 2-point conversion and make it an 18-15 game at halftime.
A 48-yard pass play to Townsend opened up the second half before O'Connor connected with Chandler Harvin for an eight-yard score to give the Blue Hens their first lead at 22-18.
UNH regained the lead on a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to go up 25-22.
Midway through the quarter, UD's running game kicked in as Cumby ran three-straight times for 29 yards and Yarns rushed twice for 38 yards, including a 30-yard for another touchdown to make it a 29-25 game.
In the fourth quarter, the Delaware defense came up with fourth-down stops on their own 5-yard line and the 15-yard line, sandwiched around a Dawsey interception to keep UNH off the scoreboard and clinch the win.

GAME NOTES

Yarns broke the 100-yard rushing mark for the second-straight game and the third time this season.
O'Connor's 336 passing yards was the second most of his career and his three touchdown passes tied a career-high.

UP NEXT
The Blue Hens will have their bye week next Saturday before returning to action on Saturday, October 7 against Duquesne. The game is part of Delaware's Parents and Family Weekend. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. and tickets are still available.

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